Afghanistan: Helmand Province

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether substantive and acceptable arrangements have been made with Pakistan to secure the overland supply routes into the British area of operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Lord Drayson: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 4 May 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 95).

Armed Forces: Eurofighter Typhoon

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon to Saudi Arabia will result in a slower rate of Typhoon build up within the Royal Air Force.

Lord Drayson: The sale of Typhoon to Saudi Arabia will be a major success for Eurofighter and the United Kingdom. Negotiations continue between Her Majesty's Government, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and representatives of BAE Systems. Until these negotiations have concluded it is not possible to define precisely the implications for the Royal Air Force.

Armed Forces: Expeditionary Air Wings

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the establishment of aircraft by categories of each of the Expeditionary Air Wings (EAW), as announced by the Ministry of Defence on 31 March; and when they expect each of the EAWs to reach its full establishment.

Lord Drayson: The nine Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs), which are drawn mainly from existing station resources, provide common support functions to deployed operating bases and will include whichever RAF aircraft are providing the operational capability required. All EAWs will achieve full operational capability by 1 July 2007.

Armed Forces: RAF Logistics

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the work of the Royal Air Force logistics and communications hubs will be integrated into the Defence Logistics Organisation.

Lord Drayson: The Air Combat Service Support Units' (ACSSUs) communications and logistics hubs are Strike Command units whose function is to provide support to RAF aircraft and deployed units. They do not form part of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO). The ACSSUs will liaise with the DLO as required in order to meet operational requirements.

Children: Parental Drug and Alcohol Use

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children are estimated to be affected by (a) parental alcohol misuse, and (b) parental drug abuse in (i) England; (ii) England and Wales; and (iii) the United Kingdom.

Lord Adonis: There are no centrally held statistics on the number of children affected by parental drug misuse. We do have the following information on both:
	According to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report Hidden Harm: Responding to the needs of children of problem drug users, there are between 250,000 and 350,000 children of problem drug users in the United Kingdom—about one for every problem drug user. Within this figure, it is estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 are in England and Wales and between 40,800 and 58,700 in Scotland.
	It is estimated that between 780,000 and 1.3 million children are affected by parental alcohol problems in the UK (Interim Report for the Strategy Unit Alcohol Harm Reduction Project). Separate totals for England and Wales are not available.

Children: Parental Drug and Alcohol Use

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research they have undertaken into the impact on family life on (a) parental alcohol misuse, and (b) parental drug abuse.

Lord Adonis: The Government commissioned research from Liverpool John Moores University to review the evidence base on young people's drug misuse. Parental drug misuse is one of the priorities within this research. Other examples of current government initiatives include:
	a study by the Policy Research Bureau on the needs of families and associates of drugs misusers;
	a study by the University of Birmingham on the welfare and visibility of children with drug-misusing parents; and
	in 2004, the Department of Health commissioned Glasgow University to conduct a study of 19 Sure Start local partnerships working with families with drug-misusing problems.

Children: Parental Drug and Alcohol Use

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking following the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Hidden Harm, to provide services to support children of parents who misuse (a) drugs, and (b) alcohol.

Lord Adonis: Hidden Harm, the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, is concerned with parental drug misuse and its effect on children and young people. It does not cover parental alcohol misuse.
	In March 2005 the Government published their response to the report, accepting 42 of the 48 recommendations and outlining a programme of action to implement the accepted recommendations. The programme of action includes details of how the Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters (ECM) reforms and developments through the national service framework (NSF) will improve the way that services are delivered to the children of drug-misusing parents.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When a decision will be made about the lead department to be responsible for the establishment and work of the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be sponsored by the new Department for Communities and Local Government. DCLG will bring together responsibility for equality policy, including policy on race, faith, gender and sexual orientation. The Women and Equality Unit will transfer to DCLG from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Driving Licences

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to increase the age at which a person can hold a driving licence.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There are no plans to change the minimum ages for acquiring a driving licence.

Driving Test

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider the introduction of a written section to the driving test before allowing applicants onto the public roads as learner drivers.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Learner drivers are already required to pass a two-part theory test before they can apply for a practical driving test.
	The computer-based theory test consists of a moving image hazard perception test and a multiple choice question (MCQ) test. Both of these elements have to be passed in the same sitting. The MCQ test consists of 35 questions covering a range of driving and road safety related topics. Candidates are required to achieve a score of 30 or more in order to pass the test.
	There are no plans to require learner drivers to pass the theory test before being allowed on the public roads.

Dyslexia

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the population of London they estimate to be dyslexic.

Lord Adonis: No information is collected centrally which would enable the Government to make an estimate of the percentage of the London population that is dyslexic.

Energy: Biofuels

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 28 November (WA 2), what progress has been made in developing an assurance scheme to ensure that the best biofuels are used.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government recognise the importance of ensuring that only the best biofuels are used towards meeting the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. We have therefore commissioned the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership to develop robust carbon certification and sustainability assurance schemes to form an integral part of the RTFO. As part of this, we intend that all obligated companies will be required to submit detailed reports on the environmental and other impacts of the biofuels for which they are responsible and that these reports will be made public.
	Work on both schemes is progressing well and key stakeholders including the major oil companies, biofuel producers and green groups have been involved in their development.

Iraq: Security

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have assessed the unclassified report by the United States State Department to Congress dated 31 January, and subsequent updates, compiled by a joint civilian-military group in Baghdad chaired by Ambassador Daniel Speckhard, on the security position in Iraq by province; and whether they will place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Lord Drayson: This report is an internal US government document that was leaked to the New York Times. As such we have not made any assessment of it and will not be placing a copy of it in the Library of the House.

Kosovo

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the General Affairs and External Relations Council established the European Union Planning Team for Kosovo at its meeting on 10 April; and when they expect the team to start work in the designated locations.

Lord Triesman: The General Affairs and External Relations Council agreed at their meeting on 10 April to a joint action launching the EU planning team for a possible future civilian European Security and Defence Policy Mission in Kosovo. We expect an initial deployment of personnel to Kosovo in the coming weeks.

Magistrates' Courts: Wales

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the political composition of each magistrates' court in Wales.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Data on the political composition of each magistrates' court in Wales are not collected.
	Political affiliation was used until June 2004 as a measure of the social balance of each bench. In June 2004, occupation and industry replaced political affiliation as this measure.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of specific recommendations, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Triesman: There has been one occasion since 1997 on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has refused to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. This occurred in relation to a Code of Practice on Access to Government Information request which was first referred to the FCO on 4 August 2004, from the noble Lord, Lord Lester. However, this information was subsequently released to him under a freedom of information request.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Cabinet Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Since 1997 the Cabinet Office has declined to give full effect on three occasions to recommendations made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in relation to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The ombudsman's report on these three cases and the Government's response are available at the following web address: www.ombudsman.org.uk/improving–services/selected–cases/AOI/index.htm.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Legal Services Commission has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Legal Services Commission cannot identify an occasion since January 1998 when it has not implemented or given effect to a recommendation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. The commission is unable to provide information before that date. From time to time, there are discussions about the amounts of compensation paid out in particular cases.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Lord Adonis: This is a matter for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the CAFCASS chief executive, will write to the noble Lord with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are making a formal response to the report for 2006 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking; and whether the report makes a case for improving prevention and practice in Great Britain.

Lord Triesman: The Government do not plan to make a formal response to this report.
	The report itself does not make any recommendations for improvements. However, the Government's response to trafficking is kept under regular review to ensure that it is as comprehensive as possible. The most recent public consultation with UK stakeholders ended on 5 April with nearly 200 contributions. Those are now being considered carefully and a summary report will be published on 21 June.

Prisoners: Identity Numbers

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the prison identity number which is allocated to persons given custodial sentences is specific to the prison in which they are detained or whether the same number is used throughout the sentence regardless of transfers between prisons; and whether the Home Office and the police are notified of the number.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: When a prisoner enters the prison system he is allocated a prison number which remains with him throughout his sentence. The unique prison number consists of two letters denoting the prison in which he was received followed by four numbers, which are issued consecutively. The Home Office Prisons Service is aware of the number as it is recorded on the inmate information system (IIS). The prison number is not made available to police. The reason for this is that the unique identifier for the police is the police national computer number, which is generated when the charged person's details are recorded on the PNC. If the offender is subsequently sentenced to a further term of imprisonment after release then he is allocated a different unique prison number. A new offender management system (C-NOMIS) is being developed for the prison and probation services, which will allocate a unique number for an offender serving a custodial or community sentence. This number will be retained if further offences are committed, enabling the services to maintain a view of the criminal history of the offender, and effectively creating a "for life" unique number that will overcome the above problem.